More Jamaican Medics Heading for Haiti

A medical team from the Ministry of Health left Jamaica on Friday (January 22), to relieve colleagues in Haiti who have been helping with relief efforts, following the January 12 earthquake.
Jamaica currently has a 26-member health team stationed in Port-au-Prince, comprised of doctors, emergency medical technicians, public health inspectors, nurses and a health educator.
Director of Emergency Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse, told a press conference at the Ministry, King Street, downtown Kingston on Thursday (January 21) that the Ministry would be operating a 7 to10 day rotation schedule of medical personnel, for as long as their help is needed in Haiti.
“We are now preparing a team to leave tomorrow (Friday), which will replace half the team in Haiti, so we ensure that there is overlap and hand over for the work areas where they continue to provide services,” she stated.
Since arriving in Haiti, the team has been working from two facilities and has seen about 150 new patients within the first three days of arriving. They have also performed surgical operations.
She said that the Jamaican team has conducted 56 operations, 36 major ones including 13 amputations, and 20 minor ones. Other procedures have been done to clean wounds and to provide antibiotics and painkillers. They have also been stabilising fractures that don’t necessarily need surgery.
The Jamaican medical team has also delivered 10 patients in a maternity ward they have set up.
Dr. Ducasse added that the work of the team has also included operating outreach clinics, in which they seek to reach areas of Haiti which have yet to be touched by the aid efforts.
Minister of Health, Hon Rudyard Spencer, publicly thanked the medical team for the work they have been doing to help Haitians affected by the earthquake.
Mr. Spencer said persons in the health care field who wish to volunteer can contact the Ministry at 1-888-ONE-LOVE (1-888-663-5683), seven days per week from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.